Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-18

HE EVENING SIAR:
ON BOARD THE GOSPEL WAGON.
A Sunday Coaching Party On the
Streets Of Washington.
TRIP WITH THE wAGoN-scENEs ALONG THE WAY
| RIvERMEN AND wELL-DRKssED AvINUE LOUNGRRs-
| THE GOSPEL TENT, BIC.
A coaching party dashed up the avenue Sun
day afternoon, and from the general direction
taken 1t might have been supposed that its desti-
nation was the Country Club House on the Ten
leytown road. The Tally-Ho, however, was not
after the latest and most approved design Of the
| Coaching Club, and the kid gloves, high collars
and coaching parasols usually characteristic of
such parties were not noticeable. The coach itself
was one of Knox's long excursion barges, and along
the sides In red letters on a white background
was the inscription, "Central Union Mission, $50
Pennsylvania avenue AS there was no ''outside'
the entire party occupied the long seats facing
each other that the length OF the wagon in the
| inside. The ribbons were handled by veteran
| energy on the part OF the four iron-gray horses,
| and managed his team without arousing any criti-
| ciSm.
THE START.
After the thirty-fve passengers or so had been
seated and while the coach still stood in front of
the doors Of the Mission Rooms, on the south side
| OF the avenue, man lifted upa long object which
was taken into the coach. II might have been a
| basket Of champagne, as that Is nearly always
necessary for the happiness OF a coaching party,
but 1t was not. II was one Of the tinieSt organs
possible; box three feet long perhaps and 2
| foot wide, supported on slight wooden legs and
worked by pedals. 1t resembled more the new:
tangled organette. from which music is extracted
lar Mason Hamlin organ, and 1t was placed in
front OF a young man, who at once opened the
The e was SUe another young man siting beside nim
| who had cOrnet, and be busted himself, as the
| wagon bowled along, in blowing the dust out, and
preparing for grand toot- The other occupants OF
the coach were equally divided to sex, and also
as to the sides which they occupied In the wagon.
The women sat together on one side and the men
/ on the other, and it may have been due to accl-
| dent, but 1t was noticed that the women occupied
the sunny side. AS The STAR man sat with the
brothers on the Shady side, he Is bound TO Oenele
that this arrangement was entirely unpremed1-
| tated The guard" on the seat with the driver
called down and wanted to know
| THE FIRST STOPPING PLACE.
"The Circle" shouted chorus OF voices, and So
| in the direction OF Washington Circle, the iron
grays forged along. In the meanwhile the occu-
pants Of the coach were busily engaged In prepar
| Ing for the work in hand, for that Is what the
as u Is Known star'S U9t st ley sun
pany came along to assist In the singing, and a
| young man passed along the aisle distributing
| singing books. 'The Moody and Sankey CONSOLE
dated" was the book used, although one OF the
sisters suddenly exclaimed in anxious tones,
'Where is my Sam Smal?" THE STAR looked
around, expecting to see small nameSake OF that
noted revivast cry out, "Here Is, ma" but MOTH
ing OF the sort happened. singing book which
1t seems goes by that name was handed to the
sister and her anxiety was allayed Some OF the
brothers and sisters formed the speakers stan, and
then there was large number who went along to
relate their experience" as their conversion Is
called, at the various stopping places where OPEN
air meetings are held. The entire company was
cheerful and the conversation which was carried
1Sy a
moving wagon, was mainly about previous meet
ings which had been held, and principally about
OF the division" at the corner OF 18th and ID
streets. This was the first time the Mission had
held an openar meeting IN that yeinty and
succeed In securing the attendance OF many OF the
inmates of the houses in that neighborhOOd, yet
they were encouraged by the Thought that the
windows.
OBSERVATIONS ALONG THE ROUTE.
As the great wagon rolled along up the avenue it
attracted istless kind Of attention from the SUM-
day groups that always adorn the fronts Of cigar
stores and the street corners. There was nearly
always an amused look on the faces Of these spec
tators, as II they wanted to be as 1ndulgenJ pos
sible toward an eccentricity OF this kind, and yet
However, the occupants of the wagon did not seem
to mind what was thought OF them. Presently the
vicinity OF the Washington Circle was reached,
and then the organ sounded out The cOrnet
emitted blast and the brothers and sisters broke
out heartily in singing one OF their familiar hymns
Then the wagon rounded the circle and the four
horses were brought up close 10 the curb with
kind OF religious flourish and in good shape as
tne most expert w, whip IN coaching club could
| with this brave display OF horsemanship had an
effect upon the groups OF people who were enjoy
Ing the quiet beauty OF the grass and flowers and
| trees In the circle. There was considerable COM
motion In that quiet spot, and great Scurrylng
around OF small children and nurses, the children
| in wild desire TO get as near possible TO the
| wagon, and the nurses frantically endeavoring TO
keep them from under the feet OF the horses.
| THE AUDIENCE.
The consequence was that when the wagon
| stopped it was at once surrounded by fringe Of
| open-mouthed, open-eyed children. The singing
continued with vigor, and new additions were
constantly being added to the group OF spectators
AS seen from the wagon, the spectators seemed to
be divided into wel-detned sections. First there
was fringe OF children OF all ages and OF all cOlOrS
and conditions OF life. Then came the women
some with babies On their arms and others with
no encumbranceS except their Sunday clothes
The outside section was more spread out, consist
| ing, as it dill, OF men. There were young men
there who had stopped for a moment to satisfy
their curiosity, and tney continued TO smoke their
| cigars. Several cOlored men came along with
| pipes in their mouths, and they also stopped.
The circle Is one OF the regular mission stations
OF the gospel wagon, but, as one OF the speakers
announced, they would not stop long that day, as
they were on their way TO attend the dedication
OF the Gospel Tent, at the corner OF 23d and g
streets northwest. After short address, followed
by invitation TO all 10 attend the tent meeting,
7
rolled down 231 street. The transition from The
smooth asphalt OF the Avenue to the rough cObble
stone, with which this street Is paved, was at
once noticed in the singing, which was kept up
with undlmini5hed v1gOr. The effect was the same
as Is noticed In organ music when the Organ1St
draws out a tremuiO stop Of great power. The
voices OF the brothers and sisters quavered and
shook, but they still continued lifting the tune"
until the horses again smartly drew up at the cor
ner Of 23d and streets
THE GOSPEL TENT.
, Here was the new tent located on q vacant lot
and 1t seemed to be already crowded. Three or
four policemen stood on the corner and throng OF
children came :umbling down the embankment
| from the tent to welcome the new arrivals Ser
vices We're already In progress inside the tent and
| these were suspended While the gospel wagonerS
entered and found seats. They brought the little
organ from the wagon and placed it In the center
| OF the tent. One OF the gospelerS took seat on
the small platform, AMI then the exercises went
| on. The tent is located on The border OF wnat is
| dents who had come to the tent stood up when all
| the benches had been nlled or course there were
cOlOred men there, and they Joined In the service
with great devOutness, although one especially
earnest brother was observed to be singing heart
| lily from hymn-bOOk which he held upside down
He seemed TO gather great mental refreshment
from gazing at the open pages now and then and
| the thOughtlesS young men and girls about him
who laughed did not seem to disturb his devottons
| tive and orderly, and the policemen had nothing
| TO do except to stand in the shade. When the
dedication exercises were concluded the goSpelers
left the tent and the meeting was continued with
| out them.
| ON THE RIVER FRONT